1 Kings 13 10

1 Kings 13:10 kjv

So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel.

1 Kings 13:10 nkjv

So he went another way and did not return by the way he came to Bethel.

1 Kings 13:10 niv

So he took another road and did not return by the way he had come to Bethel.

1 Kings 13:10 esv

So he went another way and did not return by the way that he came to Bethel.

1 Kings 13:10 nlt

So he left Bethel and went home another way.

1 Kings 13 verses

1 Kings 13 10 Meaning

1 Kings 13:10 states, "So he went back another way and did not go back by the way that he came to Bethel." This verse describes the immediate and precise obedience of the man of God from Judah to the specific command given to him by the Lord, which instructed him not to eat bread, drink water, or return by the same way he came to Bethel. His action here demonstrates his initial faithfulness and adherence to God's strict instructions regarding his mission to Jeroboam's altar.

1 Kings 13 10 Context

Chapter 13 of 1 Kings opens with a pivotal confrontation during a period of spiritual decline in the northern kingdom of Israel. Jeroboam, having set up rival worship centers at Bethel and Dan with golden calves, establishes an illegitimate priesthood to prevent his people from returning to Jerusalem for worship, thereby securing his reign politically. The man of God from Judah is sent by the Lord specifically to denounce Jeroboam's altar at Bethel. He pronounces judgment, predicts Josiah's future actions, and provides a sign: the altar splits and its ashes pour out. Immediately following this prophetic act, the man of God is commanded by God through an angel (1 Kgs 13:9) not to eat, drink, or return by the same way he came, highlighting the need for complete separation from Jeroboam's idolatrous land and his illicit invitation. Verse 10 demonstrates the man of God's immediate and strict adherence to this very specific, detailed instruction, before his tragic encounter with the old prophet later in the chapter. This act of distinct departure reinforces his role as a faithful messenger sent from the true God, a direct polemic against Jeroboam's spiritual rebellion and the syncretistic cult he instituted.

1 Kings 13 10 Word analysis

• So: (Heb. וַיֵּלֶךְ, wa·yyeleḵ, 'and he went'). This conjunctive adverb immediately links his action to the preceding divine command in verse 9. It signifies direct, immediate, and resolute obedience.
• he went back: (Heb. וַיֵּלֶךְ, wa·yyeleḵ; often translated 'he went' or 'he walked', here 'went back' implying departure). This verb choice emphasizes his physical movement away from Bethel and Jeroboam.
• another way: (Heb. בְּדֶרֶךְ אַחֶרֶת, bə·ḏereḵ ’a·ḥeret, 'by way another'). "Derek" (דרך) signifies a path, road, or journey, but often carries the broader meaning of a course of life, conduct, or spiritual walk (e.g., God's ways). The specification "another" emphasizes that the command required a complete change of his route and method of departure from Bethel, highlighting the importance of the divine instruction to avoid contamination or further association. It implies separation not just geographically but spiritually from the idolatry he confronted.
• and did not go back: (Heb. וְלֹא שָׁב, wə·lō šāḇ, 'and not returned'). This negative phrasing emphatically reinforces the prior positive statement, underscoring the absolute nature of the prohibition. "Shab" (שׁוּב) means to return, turn back. This prohibition was key to maintaining the integrity of his mission.
• by the way that he came: (Heb. בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲשֶׁר בָּא, ba·dereḵ ’ăšer bā’, 'by the way that he came'). Reiterates the exact command from God. The specific nature of this prohibition highlights divine foresight and a test of meticulous obedience, critical in prophetic missions where integrity and strict adherence to divine mandate were paramount. This particular path might have had certain associations or temptations from which God wished to separate His messenger.
• to Bethel: (Heb. בֵּית־אֵל, Beit-’El, 'House of God'; ironically, now a "house of idolatry"). Naming the place reinforces the geographical scope and the source of potential defilement or danger the prophet was to avoid upon his departure. The place, once sanctified by Jacob, had been polluted by Jeroboam's golden calf worship, becoming a symbol of rebellion against YHWH. The man of God was not to revisit the scenes of Jeroboam’s apostasy or linger in that contaminated atmosphere.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "So he went back another way": This phrase shows immediate, decisive, and distinct action, confirming adherence to God's precise command. It speaks to a conscious deviation from his previous course, symbolic of breaking ties with the sinful environment he had just confronted.
• "and did not go back by the way that he came to Bethel": This negative restatement acts as an emphatic confirmation of his complete obedience. The double negation stresses the precision of his fidelity, ensuring there was no misinterpretation or partial compliance with the Lord’s specific instructions regarding his return route, which was vital for his spiritual protection. The repetition underscores the critical nature of obedience to divine mandates, especially concerning the parameters of service to God.

1 Kings 13 10 Bonus section

The seemingly trivial command about the man of God's return path serves a critical function beyond mere instruction: it acts as a litmus test of total dependence and submission to God's will, crucial for a prophet. It suggests that any deviation, no matter how small, from the divinely appointed course, can open the door to temptation and disobedience. In this context, it could also be viewed as a divine protection mechanism to prevent lingering in a compromised area, avoiding any perceived affiliation or temptation to accept sustenance from a land that was under a curse due to Jeroboam's idolatry. This starkly contrasts with the actions of false prophets or those serving their own will. The "way" (derek) here extends beyond a mere physical road; it represents the method and manner of one's engagement with God's will and the separation from apostasy. The immediate success and signs attending his initial obedience (the tearing of the altar, Jeroboam's withered hand) would be revoked once this crucial command, designed to preserve his integrity and prophetic witness, was violated.

1 Kings 13 10 Commentary

Verse 10 marks a high point in the man of God's ministry, demonstrating initial unblemished obedience. Having just pronounced a powerful divine judgment and refused the king's enticing offer in strict accordance with God's word (1 Kgs 13:8-9), his act of choosing an entirely different return path reinforces his absolute commitment to his prophetic mandate. This seemingly minor detail – the route of return – takes on profound theological significance: it is a testament to the fact that divine commands, even in their minutest specifics, are to be wholly and meticulously followed. This precise obedience would soon be tragically contrasted by his later failure, setting up the grim narrative of a servant of God whose initial faithfulness to even the smallest directive highlights the profound consequences of subsequent disobedience to a clear, simple command. The "other way" underscores divine care, insulating the prophet from the pervasive sinfulness associated with Bethel.